Bottura and Tortellante to give autistic children a future

A solidarity lunch was served in the former Monastery of Astino in the province of Bergamo to combine Italian haute cuisine with the inclusion of autistic children. An initiative carried out by Bper Banca and Tortellante, a therapeutic and habilitation laboratory, where young people on the autistic spectrum learn to produce fresh handmade pasta. Under the supervision of the starred chef Massimo Bottura, the boys worked in the kitchens of the suggestive location to make available to guests what they had learned in the association. Every single Emilian specialty, served within the Bergamo area, was then brought to the tables of the diners directly by them as waiters. “Diversity is what we must appreciate most about these dishes”, said Massimo Bottura, three Michelin stars, who arrived in Bergamo with part of the staff of the Osteria Francescana. “There are those who have seen the tortello a little wider and those with a slightly more elongated shape. It is precisely this diversity that stimulates the palate. In chewing, all the beauty of the project emerges and for this reason I argue that they are the best tortellini in the world ”, concluded Massimo Bottura. To accompany the symbol of the Emilian tradition, other dishes of the Bergamo cuisine have also been followed to combine the culinary traditions of the two territories, as underlined by the Head of the Bergamo Regional Directorate of Bper, Luca Gotti. “We are attentive to social inclusions, culture and sport and for this reason we want to create a strong bond with citizens to make ourselves known as a bank close to people even if we come from another territory. Doing it through the palate, thanks to the work of these guys, is an added value ”, concluded Gotti. The Social Promotion Association “Il Tortellante” was born in 2018 in Modena, groups 25 young people in making fresh pasta helped by elderly women who have handed down their art. But what the association wants to offer is also the possibility of undertaking a career path once school is over, as explained by the president of the ‘Tortellante’ Erika Coppelli. “And a training ground for autonomy. The children also learn to live together in an apartment, thus acquiring the ability to break away from families. Having their independence, they improve their autonomy ”, concluded the president of Tortellante Erika Coppelli. The President of the Mia Foundation, Fabio Bombardieri, the Councilor for Social Policies of the Municipality of Bergamo, Marcella Messina, the Rector of the University of Bergamo, Remo Morzenti, Pellegrini, and the Secretary were also served among the tables of the former monastery. General of the Episcopal Curia of Bergamo, Mons. Giulio Ettore Dellavite